Report Sheds Light on Physician Compensation by Location, Gender

In general, the lower cost areas tended to have higher physician compensation than higher cost ones

Female physicians earn on average 26.5% less than their male counterparts, which in dollar terms corresponds to $91,284 less. The findings come from a physician compensation report by Doximity, the physician and advanced practice clinicians social network which boasts >70% of U.S. doctors as verified members.

The report is based on verified responses from 36,000 licensed physicians who practice at least 40 hours a week. The largest gender gaps in salary, by specialty, were identified in vascular surgery (20% less or $88,800); occupational medicine (20% less or $53,921); pediatric endocrinology (20% less or $41,467); gastroenterology (19% less or $78,490); and pediatric rheumatology (19% less or 45,412).

“Disparities in compensation directly affect the distribution of physicians around the country, which can impact patient care directly,” said Chris Whaley, PhD, lead author of the study and adjunct assistant professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health.